Key Takeaways

• Global solar power generation reached a record 2,778 TWh in 2025, growing by 636 TWh from the previous year.
• Solar energy surpassed wind for the first time and contributed to over half of global electricity demand growth between 2023 and 2025.
• China led the charge, adding 336 TWh, while the U.S. and India followed with increases of 85 TWh and 53 TWh respectively.

Record Growth in Solar Energy Generation

Global solar energy saw unprecedented growth in 2025, with a total generation of 2,778 TWh, marking a staggering increase of 636 TWh compared to 2024, as reported in Ember’s Global Electricity Review 2026. This annual hike represents the largest increase in solar energy history.

This surge in solar output not only overshadowed all other major electricity sources but also exceeded the total electricity demand of the UK, which is approximately 300 TWh. Solar’s growth rate soared to 33% above 2024 levels, nearly doubling the levels seen in 2023. It was observed that solar energy expanded more than three times faster than wind power and almost 18 times quicker than natural gas.

For the first time, solar electricity outpaced wind energy, accounting for 8.7% of global electricity, a notable rise from 1.1% in 2015. Throughout the past decade, solar output has increased to nearly 11 times its 2015 levels. Between 2023 and 2025, solar helped fulfill half of the global electricity demand growth.

The remarkable expansion of solar energy has been fueled by significantly decreased costs and extensive deployment efforts. Prices for solar panels have plummeted by about 90% since 2015, while global solar installations hit a record 647 GW in 2025, comprising 68% of all renewable capacity additions from 2019 to 2024.

China once again emerged as the dominant force in solar growth, contributing 336 TWh in 2025 alone, which accounted for over half of the global increase. Chinese solar generation reached 1,175 TWh, surpassing the combined output of all OECD countries and triple that of the United States.

The United States was the second-largest contributor, adding 85 TWh of solar energy, mainly through utility-scale projects, fulfilling approximately 65% of its demand growth. Following closely, India added 53 TWh, supported by a record of 38 GW from both utility-scale and rooftop installations.

In a noteworthy performance, Pakistan recorded a rapid growth rate with an 85% increase, adding 17 TWh. Solar’s contribution in Pakistan has nearly tripled in three years, now at 18.8%, largely driven by distributed and off-grid systems.

Moreover, solar energy is becoming increasingly significant globally, with 50 countries generating over 10% of their electricity from solar, a rise from just 15 in 2020. To be among the top ten nations by solar share in 2025, countries needed a minimum of 17% of their electricity sourced from solar, a significant increase from 13.5% in 2024. Per capita solar generation also grew significantly, reaching 338 kWh in 2025, with Australia remaining the leader, having 43% of households equipped with rooftop solar systems.

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